From the Amazon to Machu Picchu: Colombia and Peru Route

Our tour starts with our meeting at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal. After ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we depart for Bogota in the morning with Turkish Airlines' scheduled flight. We welcome the new day on the plane. After our arrival in Bogota, we transfer to our hotel with our private vehicle waiting for us. Free time after check-in procedures at the hotel. Overnight at our hotel.  

After our breakfast, we leave our hotel for our Bogota city tour. In this part of our tour, we will first visit the Gold Museum and Botero Museum. The Botero Museum, one of Bogota's most important art museums, consists of very valuable works donated by the famous artist Fernando Botero. After the museum, we will see La Candelaria, Bogota's oldest neighborhood and the place where the city was first established. In this neighborhood, you will be able to see Spanish colonial architecture and trace the colonial style. Next, we will visit Plaza Bolivar to get to know the historical texture of the city. In our next visit point, we will witness the city view from Monserrate Hill and, weather permitting, an exquisite sunset view. We go up to this hill by funicular, visit a church located at the top, and take our photos. After our tour, we move to our hotel to rest. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel, we vacate our rooms at the specified time and transfer to the Leticia pier with our private vehicle. From here, we cross to Santa Rosa on the Peru side with a short boat ride of about 10 minutes with a local boat. Upon our arrival at the Santa Rosa pier, our guide assists us with passport procedures and boarding formalities for the ferry to Iquitos. Afterwards, our ferry journey towards Iquitos on the Amazon River begins. This journey, which will take about 10 hours by ferry equipped with comfortable, reclining seats along the Amazon River, will remain in our memory as a unique experience. During our journey, we will have the opportunity to observe local settlements remaining on the Peru side of the Amazon Basin. We will see traditional houses called palafitos, built elevated against the possibility of river flooding. We complete our trip accompanied by rain forests extending on both sides of the Amazon River. Transfer to our hotel and overnight.

After breakfast at our lodge, our exciting tour where we will discover the wildlife in the Amazon forests begins. Accompanied by our guides, we set off on a nature walk of about 45 minutes using path roads that will take us to the heart of the rainforests. Throughout our walk, we get the chance to observe pink river dolphins, sloths, monkeys, and colorful bird species in their natural habitats. At the point we reach, we will have the chance to see the daily lives of the Amazon indigenous people. We will also have the opportunity to taste foods unique to Amazon culture, made from fresh and local products. At the end of this unique day accompanied by the sounds of the forest, after all the forest exploration and safari activities we will perform throughout the day, we return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at the lodge, we transfer to the airport with our private vehicle for our Lima flight, which we will perform with local airlines. Following our arrival in Lima, we start our city tour where we will closely get to know the historical and cultural riches of Peru. Our first stop will be Plaza de Armas, where Peru declared its independence in 1821. In this important square of the city, we will see the Presidential Palace, the Archdiocese of Lima, and Lima Cathedral. After our tour in the city square, we will visit the underground tombs called Catacombs, located under the San Francisco Monastery, where tens of thousands of people are buried. Afterwards, we move to the Surco region for a visit to Museo Oro del Perú (Gold Museum), where valuable gold collections belonging to different civilizations of the world are exhibited. There are important pre-colonial works in this museum. There is also a weapon collection of about twenty thousand pieces collected from different periods and regions of the world. Afterwards, we will give a photo break at Parque del Amor (Love Park). Located in the Miraflores district, on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The famous statue in the middle of the park is known for its Gaudí-inspired colorful mosaic walls and love-themed writings. Transfer to our hotel at the end of the tour. Overnight at our hotel.  

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the airport for our Cusco flight, which we will perform with local airlines. Following our landing in Cusco, we start our Cusco city tour. First, Cusco Cathedral, located near Plaza de Armas, will be visited. Built in the 16th century, this magnificent structure is one of the most important examples of Spanish colonial architecture. The use of stones from the Inca period in its construction has added both a historical and cultural layer to the structure. With valuable paintings reflecting the religious art of the period, gold-embroidered altars, and detailed carvings in its interior section, this cathedral is considered one of the centers of Cusco's religious and cultural life. Afterwards, Coricancha (Sun Temple), one of the most important religious structures of the Inca civilization, will be visited. Coricancha is one of the most impressive structures reflecting the precision of Inca stonemasonry and its strong connections with astronomy. This sacred area, which is rumored to have been completely covered with gold sheets during the Inca period, was the most important center dedicated to the sun god Inti. During the tour, we will give a break at Mercado Central de San Pedro, where you will find the chance to buy region-specific local products. After our tour, we transfer to our hotel to rest. Overnight at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel, we set off for our visit to Machu Picchu, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. First, we transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station, located among the deep valleys of the Andes Mountains. We reach the town of Aguas Calientes with a train journey accompanied by impressive mountain and river views. After taking small minibuses from here for about 15 minutes, we begin to explore the ancient city of Machu Picchu, built by the Inca Empire in the 15th century, also known as the "Lost City of the Incas", which welcomes us with its fairy-tale atmosphere where time seems to have stopped. Located in the clouds at an altitude of approximately 2,430 meters, this city is considered one of the most important examples of Inca engineering with its stone masonry, astronomical observation areas, agricultural terraces, and temples, which we learn even better with the detailed narration of our guide. After our tour, we have our open-buffet lunch. Afterwards, we transfer by train to the Ollantaytambo train station for the return journey and from there to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.

After our breakfast, we transfer to the airport with our private vehicle for our flight to Bogota to be operated by local airlines. Upon our arrival, we begin our tour of the famous Catedral de Sal de Zipaquirá (Salt Cathedral). Located approximately 180 meters underground, this impressive structure is one of the most extraordinary religious buildings in the world with its giant galleries, tunnels, and magnificent crosses. Having a unique atmosphere both architecturally and artistically, the cathedral was built entirely by carving salt rocks. The giant salt cross inside, the main worship hall, and the illuminated tunnels extending to different sections offer visitors a fascinating experience and create a unique setting to capture unforgettable photo frames. After our tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.